• Loading stock data...
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Nominations Are Open for Front Office Sports Honors! Submit Now
Law

How ‘Punt God’ Matt Araiza Avoided Scrutiny For Months

  • Sources tell FOS there was nothing in Araiza’s pre-draft report that hinted at sexual assault allegations.
  • Araiza and two of his SDSU football teammates were accused of rape in a lawsuit filed last week.
Matt Araiza
Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports

Matt Araiza was picked by many NFL Draft prognosticators to be the first punter taken. 

The San Diego State product who earned the name “Punt God” was ultimately the third punter selected as the Buffalo Bills nabbed Araiza in the sixth round with the 180th overall pick.

While it was reported two teams had knowledge of something amiss in Araiza’s background, sources tell Front Office Sports that there was nothing flagged in the pre-draft info compiled by the NFL and distributed to teams. 

It stands to reason the Bills and other teams in need of a punter didn’t grasp the allegations Araiza faced, which were splayed out in Thursday’s lawsuit that alleged Araiza and two of his San Diego State football teammates were complicit in gang rape of an underaged high school girl last October.

The NFL as a whole has increased scrutiny of potential draft picks, especially when it comes to red flags on social media accounts that are traced back to prospects’ times in high school. Thorough background checks and interviews — especially of players expected to go in the early rounds — have led teams to make more informed decisions in the draft process. 

Without criminal charges, it’s often left to coaches — like SDSU head coach Brady Hoke, who walked out of an interview on Monday when asked about the rape allegations — to inform NFL teams about issues related to prospects. 

It’s not known if Araiza was confronted with anything in his background at the NFL Combine in February, where interested teams ask questions in private. The Bills apparently became enamored with Araiza at the Combine where he punted one ball in warmups 80 yards. 

The Bills, however, had some information before they tapped Araiza as their starting punter on Aug. 22. 

Near the start of training camp in July, Dan Gilleon, the attorney for the accuser, informed the Bills’ team attorney about the alleged incident. 

Araiza’s family said in a statement on Monday that “there are multiple witness reports to deny the claims that are made against” their son. 

“The legal system is designed to find the facts and make decisions,” the family said. “They should be allowed to do that.”

Even though the team said in a statement Thursday that it “conducted a thorough examination of this matter,” neither Gilleon nor any of his investigators ever spoke to the Bills again, a representative for the firm told FOS. 

This wasn’t April, when details of the case were known to few people. Gilleon wasn’t even representing the accuser yet, and information on the San Diego police investigation — which just recently got turned over to prosecutors — was closely guarded. 

Since the allegations occurred when Araiza was in his final year at SDSU, the league couldn’t take action under the personal conduct policy, the one that led to the 11-game suspension of Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. 

That left the investigation up to the Bills. 

Gilleon said he rebuffed outreach by Araiza’s attorney about a settlement that could have kept the allegations private and, potentially, prevented charges ever being filed.  

A settlement isn’t sinister and isn’t technically a cover-up. But there were teams many years ago who occasionally worked to help players avoid arrest for incidents like one described by a former team security official. 

“The player punched him [at a bar]. He roughed him up pretty good,” the former security official said. “I got the tapes from the club that night. We heard another thing about it.”

The two former security officials told FOS that’s not the way the teams or the league operate now — and not just because we are in the age of smartphones and digital surveillance that’s often backed up to the cloud. 

“There were a small number of teams that did that kind of thing,” another security official said. “You send a player a message that basically says, ‘Everything will be taken care of.’ All you’re doing is enabling and it’s only going to get worse.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL Owners Face Big Decisions on 18th Game, Streaming, Rules

The league approaches its key offseason gathering with a sense of resurgent growth.
Columbia, SC - February 16, 2025 - Colonial Life Arena: Rebecca Lobo and Ryan Ruocco during a regular season game.

Inside Ryan Ruocco’s Rapid Rise to ESPN’s Top Voice of Women’s Hoops

The top voice became “quickly addicted” to calling the women’s game.
Mar 27, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Chris Youngblood (8) and the Alabama Crimson Tide bench celebrate during the second half against the Brigham Young Cougars during an East Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center.

How Alabama Became College Basketball’s Newest Juggernaut

The Crimson Tide have found success rivaling their historic football program.
Matt Weiss

Everything You Need to Know About the Michigan Hacking Scandal

Matt Weiss is accused of hacking athletes’ accounts to access intimate photos.

Featured Today

Kendall Coyne Schofield

Kendall Coyne Schofield Wants More for the Next Wave of Mom-Athletes

The Walter Cup–winning Frost captain says small changes mean “everything.”
Dec 21, 2024; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks to pass the ball against USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) in the first half at XL Center.
March 23, 2025

‘More Value to Be Had’: Were Women’s March Madness Media Rights Undersold?

Could the NCAA have gotten millions more in its latest TV deal?
Mar 20, 2025; Lexington, KY, USA; Creighton Bluejays forward Jasen Green (0) dunks the ball during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena
March 22, 2025

Basketball-Only Schools Could See Power Surge After House Settlement Approval 

Football teams might monopolize the revenue-sharing dollars at power conference schools.
Mar 15, 2025; New York, NY, USA; St. John's Red Storm guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) after hitting a three-point basket against the Creighton Bluejays in the second half at Madison Square Garden.
March 20, 2025

Perfect Storm: St. John’s Biggest Fans Can’t Bet on the School

In the No. 1 sports betting market, the Red Storm are off-limits.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
exclusive

ESPN Is Accused of Harassment, Retaliation in Legal Letter From Exec Editor

Cristina Daglas has been on administrative leave since January.
Juan Soto
March 18, 2025

MLBPA’s NIL Suit Against DraftKings Can Continue, Judge Says

The sportsbook failed to get the case dismissed.
A set of trading cards
March 19, 2025

New Suit Alleges Fanatics ‘Monopoly’ Increased Trading Card Prices 

The suit also names the NBA, NHL, and NFL as defendants.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Nick Kyrgios reacts to a point against Botic van de Zandschulp in the first set of their first-round match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., Thursday, March 6, 2025.
March 18, 2025

Novak Djokovic’s PTPA Sues Tennis ‘Cartel’

The 163-page lawsuit was filed in three countries and seeks to reshape the sport.
Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) and tight end Trey McBride (85) against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium.
March 14, 2025

Marvin Harrison Jr., Fanatics End 10-Month-Long Legal Battle

Fanatics initially filed the lawsuit last May for breach of contract.
Dec. 18, 1982; New York, NY, USA; FILE PHOTO; Miami Dolphins quarterback David Woodley (16) is pursued by New York Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau (99) at the Orange Bowl.
March 13, 2025

Mark Gastineau Sues ESPN for $25 Million, Alleging Deceptive Editing of Favre..

Gastineau is a Pro Football Hall of Famer who played from 1979 to 1988.
Ryan Wedding
March 7, 2025

Feds Put $10 Million Bounty on Olympic Snowboarder for Drug Trafficking, Murder

Ryan Wedding competed at the 2002 Winter Games for Canada.